Marks: Nets’ big need is small forward

In a recent interview for YES Network, Nets general manager Sean Marks acknowledged his team needed everything, but absolutely has to improve at small forward.

The amount of interest they’ve shown in wings — both foreign and domestic, both through the draft and free agency — shows he’s not just blowing smoke.

“We know the three position for us is certainly one that needs to be addressed,’’ Marks said on Nets Magazine. “I look at it too that we have some free agents of our own who we need to know what’s going to happen with them there first.

“Where we are in our life cycle it’s not where we can say, ‘We’re only missing this.’ To be honest, we need to look at everybody. We’re looking at the best players available. That’s coming through the draft, that’s coming through free agency.”

Granted, 6-foot-7 Caris LeVert held down the smallforward spot after the NBA All-Star break as the Nets closed out the season 11-13, and Marks called his play one of the two biggest surprises. But it’s clear the Nets would prefer he move to shooting guard, where Randy Foye is 33 and not the long-term answer.

And of those free-agent decisions Marks alluded to, there are six Nets without guaranteed deals for next season, including wings K.J. McDaniels ($3,476,873 team option), Joe Harris ($1,524,305) and Sean Kilpatrick ($1,524,305).

“I feel like I definitely could stick here. I’m loving Brooklyn,” said McDaniels, whom the Nets have until June 24 to pick up their option on. “It’s been an adjustment, but I love Brooklyn, and I love the facility, the organization and just the fans. The fans have shown a lot of love, and Brooklyn is a great place to be. Hopefully, it doesn’t go that long.”

While restricted free agents Otto Porter and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope are liable to get offers at or near the max, the Nets know they are more than just one player away and have been scouting Europe in droves because that is where the bargains are.

Nets director of player personnel Gregg Polinsky was in Spain’s Grand Canary Islands on Sunday, one of 10 NBA teams scouting 7-2 Latvian center Anzejs Pasecniks according to Israeli writer David Pick. But that’s just the latest wave.